Let the market fix the oil crisis March 5, 2026 The conflict in Iran is unlikely to lead to 1970s-style oil rationing, but policymakers must use price mechanisms and encourage domestic energy investment to insure against unpredictable escalations, says Andy Mayer In 1979 the Iranian Revolution sparked the ‘second oil crisis’ as the price of crude oil more than doubled to $40 per barrel. Although [...]
Mark Kleinman: £1bn Leonardo deal betrays Whitehall toxicity March 5, 2026 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City AM column How’s this for joined-up government? The chancellor, could not bear to let 3,000 skilled manufacturing jobs at a helicopter factory in Somerset evaporate – or so the story went – because “Rachel cares about keeping the [...]
Foreign buyers circle ‘undervalued’ UK firms March 4, 2026 Foreign buyers continued to circle “undervalued” UK firms in the final quarter of last year, new figures show, with the value of inward Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) surging to its highest level in four years. The total value of deals in which foreign companies acquired UK firms rocketed to £27.4bn in the final quarter of [...]
Bank of England could raise interest rates over Iran energy price shock March 4, 2026 The Bank of England could raise interest rates this year if energy prices fail to return to levels seen before the start of America’s war with Iran, leading economists have warned. Analysts across the City and at Westminster think tanks have suggested that higher inflation caused by disruption in oil and gas movements across the [...]
Labour warned it could miss housing targets over tax burden on sector March 4, 2026 A leading construction industry body has warned the Labour government could miss its ambitious house building target as employment costs and tax burdens build pressure on the sector. The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA), which represents more than 2,000 firms providing critical machinery and expertise to the industry, told City AM Labour will fail to meet [...]
Starmer refuses to reveal date of defence investment plan March 4, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer hit back at criticism the UK government was not spending enough on defence amid an escalating conflict in the Middle East putting RAF jets and British nationals at risk. The Prime Minister declined to reveal when the much-anticipated defence investment plan would be published as Kemi Badenoch centred her attacks on the [...]
Labour MP’s partner among three arrested in China spy probe March 4, 2026 Three men, including a partner of a Labour MP, have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China. The Metropolitan Police revealed on Wednesday that the men, aged 39, 43 and 68, were arrested in London and Wales as part of a counter-terrorism policing investigation under the National Security Act. One of those arrested, David [...]
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Appoints Rory O’Broin as Global Head of Transactional Liability March 4, 2026 Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) today announced the appointment of Rory O’Broin as Global Head of Transactional Liability. “We are delighted to welcome Rory to BHSI and look forward to the significant contribution he will make to our Global Transactional Liability business,” said Hilary Browne, Global Chief Underwriting Officer at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance. “His [...]
Mary Kay Goes for Gold in Global Manufacturing Standards March 4, 2026 Quality, Certified: Mary Kay Achieves ISO 22716
Iceland versus Iceland: Trademark feud put on ice March 4, 2026 The decades-long trademark dispute between UK retailer Iceland and its Nordic namesake looks to be thawing as the supermarket’s boss offered discounts for shoppers in Reykjavik. Executive chair Richard Walker has signalled an end to the frosty dispute between Iceland and Iceland which was kicked off by his father, the retailer’s co-founder Malcom Walker. The [...]